Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 1230: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in processing an application first made in 2002 for a higher education grant by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the further reason her Department has not responded to the letters sent to them by the person's general practitioner; if she has satisfied herself regarding the way in which this application has been treated. [40252/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The higher education grant schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. When assessing the means of students, other than independent mature students, the Acts specify that the students' means and those of their parents or guardians must be below a prescribed limit.

As regards the operation of third level grants schemes, I should point out that the decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC, which in the case referred to by the Deputy is Mayo County Council. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is desired.

Mayo County Council contacted my Department for direction concerning certain matters in this case. My Department is still in communication with Mayo County Council and the applicant and his representatives concerning issues which have arisen in the context of the examination of this grant application. We expect to be in a position shortly to finalise a decision.